Pakistan’s Conservative Approach Backfires in 60-Run Defeat, Raising Concerns Ahead of India Clash
February 20, 2025: Karachi: Pakistan suffered a 60-run defeat against New Zealand in their Champions Trophy 2025 opener, with Babar Azam’s sluggish 64 off 90 balls drawing sharp criticism. Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin compared Babar’s innings to the “Tortoise and Rabbit” fable, highlighting Pakistan’s ultra-defensive approach in a steep chase of 321.
Also Read: Champions Trophy: Hosts Pakistan Loose Opening Match Against New Zealand by 60 Runs
Pakistan’s Struggles in the Run Chase
- First 10 overs: 22/2 (Babar Azam 12* off 27, Mohammad Rizwan 3* off 14)
- First 20 overs: 66/2 (Fakhar Zaman joins Babar after Rizwan’s dismissal)
- Pakistan’s 100-run mark: 27.1 overs
- Babar’s 50: Off 81 balls (PAK 127/4 in 30.4 overs)
- Babar’s Dismissal: 64 off 90 balls (PAK 153/6 in 34 overs)
Also Read: Champions Trophy: “Tantrums Just Don’t End”: Saqlain Mushtaq Slams India Amid Row
Key Moments of the Match
✅ NZ Domination: New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Will O’Rourke (3/47) and Mitchell Santner (3/66), put Pakistan under constant pressure.
✅ Slow Batting Hurts Pakistan: Pakistan was 8/1 after 3.4 overs, 22/2 after 10 overs, and 66/2 after 20 overs, effectively making the chase impossible.
✅ Late Acceleration: Khushdil Shah (69 off 49) and Haris Rauf (19 off 10) added fireworks, but the damage was already done.
✅ Final Collapse: Pakistan was all out for 260 in 47.2 overs, handing New Zealand an easy 60-run win.
R Ashwin & Cricket World React to Babar’s Knock
🗣️ Ravichandran Ashwin: “Babar Azam’s innings reminded me of the ‘Tortoise and Rabbit’ story. In modern-day cricket, you cannot afford to bat like this while chasing 321.”
Babar’s journey to 50 coupled with Salman Ali Agha’s batting has to be the best depiction of “ The Tortoise and Rabbit story” . #ChampionsTrophy
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) February 19, 2025
The 50 I hope will come soon enough🤞
What’s Next for Pakistan?
🚨 Must-Win Match Against India: After this demoralizing loss, Pakistan faces arch-rivals India in a virtual knockout game.
🚨 Tactical Rethink Needed: Pakistan’s conservative batting strategy is under scrutiny, with experts urging aggressive intent in powerplays.
📌 Can Pakistan bounce back against India, or will their Champions Trophy campaign end early? Stay tuned for updates!
Tags:
PAKvsNZ, ChampionsTrophy2025, BabarAzam, RAshwin, PakistanCricket, NewZealandCricket, CricketLive, CricketUpdates, KhushdilShah, MitchellSantner